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By: Agence France-Presse December 7, 2013 1:49 AM

Former South African President Nelson Mandela (R) dons a white T-shirt with the words "HIV Positive" as he visits the Nolungile Clinic in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa together with AIDS activist Zackie Achmat, in this 2002 file photo from Medicins Sans Frontieres.

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

PARIS - AIDS campaigners on Friday mourned the passing of Nelson Mandela, declaring his stand against taboo and stigma had turned the tide against the killer disease.

"Nelson Mandela was a central figure in the AIDS movement. He was instrumental in laying the foundations of the modern AIDS response," said Michel Sidibe, head of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, or UNAIDS.

"His actions helped save millions of lives and transformed health in Africa. He broke the conspiracy of silence and gave hope that all people should live with dignity."

Of Mandela's achievements, UNAIDS pointed to his decision in 2005 to go public with the news that his own son, Makgatho, had died of AIDS-related causes.

"His public revelation helped drive debate about HIV. And his support to people living with HIV helped to break down stigma and discrimination," UNAIDS said in a press release.

The International AIDS Society (IAS), whose conferences have spearheaded the war on AIDS and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes it, said the world "has lost an extraordinary statesman and human being".

"Mr. Mandela had the power to change hearts and minds, change policies and above all change the public's perception of the virus in the most affected region of sub-Sahara," said Bertrand Audoin, executive director of the IAS.

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AIDS campaigners recall Mandela's initiative to combat killer disease